COVID-19: Good news! India's oldest survivors discharged from Kerala

Kerala's elderly couple Thomas Abraham (93) and Mariyamma (88) who were undergoing treatment at the medical college hospital after contracting COVID-19, has now completely recovered. The couple left home at Ranni in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala on Friday.

According to the health officials, it was a 'miracle cure' as the couple belonged to the high-risk category with high chances for death due to infection. COVID-19 patients above the age of 60 are globally categorized as "high-risk". The 93-year-old is the oldest man cured of COVID-19 in India. The recovery of the elderly couple has indeed turned out to be a remarkable achievement for Kerala health authorities.

As per the instruction of health minister K K Shailaja, a special team was formed to take care of the couple, who frequently insisted on going back to their home and weren't cooperating with the nurses. Though Thomas’ condition was worse for days and had to be shifted to ventilator support, however, he recovered. A nurse in the medical team who took care of the couple tested positive for the virus, also recovered and discharged today. The couple was given a warm send-off by the hospital staff who treated them for nearly a month.

The elderly couple contracted the virus from their Italy-returned son and family. All family members including the elderly couple, their son and his wife, grandson and two other relatives have been recovered and discharged from the hospital. The 93-year-old Thomas and his wife are a very healthy couple. Thomas is a teetotaller and non-smoker. Although infected with COVID-19, they did not suffer from any other health problems.